Laura Stephenson, 22, joins the Junaluska Singers from Knoxville, TN. Stephenson, originally from Jackson, TN attended North Side High School is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She obtained a BA in Audiology in May 2007 and has also begun a bachelors degree in Music Education this fall at UTK. Stephenson is the daughter of Richard and Nancy Ann Stephenson of Jackson, TN.
This is Stephenson's second summer with the Junaluska Singers. She sang with the Glenn Draper singers at the White House and National Cathedral on their recent Washington, DC tour and has performed various musical theatre roles in UT Theatre and Clarence Brown Productions. Stephenson has also performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC with her high school choir. She attended Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts as a voice student in 2001. Stephenson performed a solo at UT Concert Choir's performance of Handel's Messiah this past December. She has served as a paid section leader at local churches in Knoxville (St, John's Cathedral and Church Street UMC). She has been the leader of the Catholic Student Association praise band and has competed in the Phi Mu Alpha talent show this Spring where they won first place. In spring 2005, Stephenson performed in St.Petersburg and Moscow, Russia with the UT Chamber Singers. Stephenson is currently the President of Sigma Alpha Iota Music.
Stephenson's favorite singer is Ella Fitzgerald and she enjoys all other types of music, but particularly artists like Damien Rice. Stephenson has recently been hired as the contemporary worship leader at Fountain City United Methodist Church in Knoxville. Her home church is Northside United Methodist church in Jackson, TN.